What is the average pay for foster carers?

The average pay for foster carers is difficult to understand as there is no requirement for fostering agencies or local authorities to share or disclose their foster carer payment rate. The carer payment levels are shared when you apply or enquire to become a foster carer, but they are often not openly available. Each fostering agency or local authority will have a guide to foster carer payment rates and full information that can be shared.

Foster carer payment amounts are also made up of two elements adding to the challenge of understanding averages – firstly, the children’s allowances amount which is to cover the costs for supporting a child or young person including their pocket money, food costs, transport costs, personal toiletries, clothing, recreational money toward hobbies or interests, birthday and religious allowance. Then secondly, the reward element, which is the amount retained by the foster carer directly.

The children’s allowances can be benchmarked as there are minimum allowances as set out by the Government. For example, the figure is £289 for a child or young person based in London aged 16 or 17. The children’s allowance differs by regions across England with costs being higher in London and the South East then the rest of England. The levels are also different by age.

For the overall average foster carer payments, the total payment is influenced by the level of needs for the child or young person. The first payment level is for mainstream or standard placements as determined by referral categories by Local Authorities. Then the payment level increases for enhanced or complex placements. The funding for children and young persons with higher needs is often higher which then provides for a higher foster carer payment.

Other factors that can influence the average foster carer payment level can be:

• Experience of the foster carers – selected agencies or local authorities may have a carer payment that is higher if you have completed several years of fostering
• Sibling groups – when children are placed together, there is the understanding that costs can be saved – for example for food costs or travelling together
• Additional support costs – the carer payment may include a specific payment that is included to cover a certain costs e.g. extra money toward therapy, travel costs for contact or other agreed costs
• Location of the fostering household which is relevant for housing costs and other direct costs
• Any payments for loyalty or long-term service which can be structured into the payment
• Payments for respite – if these are paid separately or as part of the overall foster carer payment

To provide a guide only, the average carer payment level for standard or mainstream placements would be in the region of £450 per week for each child or young person. Payments can be higher or lower depending on the factor.

If you are transferring fostering agency or moving from your local authority, then you will have an existing payment structure with that relevant fostering organisation. It is important to therefore understand the new payment structure with your new agency. If you have placements ongoing, then the carer payment would be expected to continue at that ongoing level. This would be covered at your transfer protocol meeting on the funding where there are current placements.

The best approach is to ask for information and details of the foster carer payment structure. Beacon Fostering has competitive allowances and please visit the page below about fostering allowances for further information…

https://beaconfostering.com/fostering-allowances/